LAKE COUNTY >> A few days after transformers tipped, causing a small oil spill in Lakeport Wednesday, PG&E began soil testing and received some results from the water samples it look from Clear Lake, a spokesperson from the utility company said.

The incident one night last week allowed small amounts of oil to flow into a drain leading to the lake. According to spokesman Brian Swanson, the tests yielded .05 parts per billion of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) — significantly under the maximum allowed by law. The federal government allows .5 parts per billion.

Small amounts of the synthetic molecule can be found in mineral oils used for old transformers that were put in use before the chemical was banned from the oils by the Toxic Substances Control Act in the 1970s.

Swanson explained that one of the three transformers that tipped on Wednesday was “vintage” and contained four gallons of mineral oil. It is unclear whether that oil contained PCB.

Along with two other transformers containing 23 more gallons, the substance, aided by the constant rain on Wednesday, spread into a drainage ditch adjacent to Industrial Avenue that flows into Clear Lake through the lagoon housing complex at 1800 South Main St.

“Any impurities from the mineral oil are below maximum levels for drinking water,” he said. “We will see the test results as they come.”

Land and aquatic containment crews have been on the Lakeport street and the small residential harbor area ever since the spill occurred. However, they haven’t started to clean up the water, Swanson said, because PG&E and Patriot Environmental Services are awaiting more test results.

While waiting for soil test results to arrive, dirt excavation to remove the possibly contaminated topsoil has commenced, according to Swanson. On Monday evening crews worked under floodlights to clear the area.

“We’re taking this seriously,” he said. “We’re going to continue to test the water and the soil and follow it with an aggressive cleanup plan until we are done.”

With these results and the current containment measures, Swanson said he doesn’t know if there is a threat to public health, although at this point the chances are scant. No warnings have been issued by authorities. He added that if there are “significant hazards” the company would communicate it to the public.

PCB is not to be taken lightly.

“It’s pretty toxic stuff,” District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele said. “When it gets into the environment, it has a bio-magnification component.”

In an environment such as Clear Lake, PCB, like Mercury, will be further concentrated the higher it climbs up the food chain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the true effects of PCB on humans aren’t really detailed, but it has been known to create skin irritation such as rashes and acne. The man-made chemical can also evaporate into the air from water and from soil, the government organization’s basic information package reported.

Regardless of the impact on public health, those liable for the spill may face penalties under California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Code 5650, which outlaws dumping of such chemicals into the state’s water systems. According to Swanson, the state DFW was informed of the spill.

Other agencies have been involved as well.

Different departments from Lake County, including Environmental Health, Water Resources, and the Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Lakeport’s Public Works department have assisted in the containment effort, Swanson said.

City and county offices reacted quickly. Lakeport Mayor Marc Spillman said he was relieved to know that the water treatment facility just north of the area had been closed for USDA updates at the time of the spill. The treatment plant, near the Lakeport Senior Center, takes water from the lake, makes it safe and puts it into the water system.

“Our system is not threatened,” Spillman said, adding that the closure will not affect water supply as other sources will make up for it.

A crew from Patriot Environmental services preparing for action shortly after the spill was reported last week. According to PG&E, early indications are that the damage to soil and Lakeport waterfront is negligible.